In Psychology, it is a well known fact that one can change oneself through positive self-affirmation & visualisation .It is believed that the self-affirmations to the subconscious mind is best done in an “already achieved mode”. For example, a student who is weak in mathematics and wish to improve on it should say the self-affirmations as “I am excellent at mathematics” & also visualize himself as ALREADY being good at Maths repeatedly. Or a person who is a coward could reprogram his mind by saying to himself,” I am brave”,etc. This is so that the subconscious mind is set with the positive intended goal and thus will program the whole body with the message. But the question is that such self-affirmation is not the truth (or not the truth yet). When he is telling himself that he is ALREADY being good at Maths, he is actually “lying “to himself.

Question

In Psychology, it is a well known fact that one can change oneself through positive self-affirmation & visualisation .It is believed that the self-affirmations to the subconscious mind is best done in an “already achieved mode”. For example, a student who is weak in mathematics and wish to improve on it should say the self-affirmations as “I am excellent at mathematics” & also visualize himself as ALREADY being good at Maths repeatedly. Or a person who is a coward could reprogram his mind by saying to himself,” I am brave”,etc. This is so that the subconscious mind is set with the positive intended goal and thus will program the whole body with the message. But the question is that such self-affirmation is not the truth (or not the truth yet). When he is telling himself that he is ALREADY being good at Maths, he is actually “lying “to himself.

So, would it better to say ,”I am getting better and better at maths “ rather than “I am excellent at maths”?

Answer 1

In psychology, positive self-affirmations and visualization are widely used techniques to help individuals change themselves or improve certain aspects of their lives. The idea is that by repetitively stating positive statements about oneself and visualizing the desired outcome, one can influence their subconscious mind and ultimately change their behavior and beliefs.

When engaging in self-affirmations, it is often recommended to phrase them in the present tense, as if the desired outcome has already been achieved. This is because the subconscious mind tends to respond more effectively to statements that are framed as if they are already true. For example, saying "I am excellent at mathematics" instead of "I am getting better at math" helps create a stronger belief in oneself as being skilled in that subject.

However, you raise a valid point about the potential discrepancy between the self-affirmation and the current reality. When someone claims they are excellent at mathematics when they are not yet proficient, it may feel like they are "lying" to themselves. This inconsistency can lead to a lack of belief in the affirmation and reduce its effectiveness.

In such cases, adapting the affirmation to a more realistic statement, such as "I am getting better and better at math" can be a suitable alternative. This rephrasing acknowledges the current level of skill while still emphasizing improvement and progress. By affirming this statement repeatedly and visualizing oneself steadily improving in math, it can still have a positive impact on one's mindset and motivation to improve.

Ultimately, the choice of phrasing for self-affirmations may depend on the individual's personal preference and what feels most authentic and believable to them. It is essential to find a balance between challenging oneself and setting realistic goals to maintain motivation and build self-confidence.